The agility course looked impossible. Tapeesa seemed incapable of pulling her eyes from it like she was transfixed by her impending sprained ankle from the rope swing or falling on her face on the balance beams. Grace was never one of her strong suits. Her talents tended to land more in the awkward and clumsy wheel house. Her gaze followed every obstacle like she was solving a puzzle: if she crawled like this, grabbed the rope like that, and maybe if she got a running start… oh boy.
"Good morning everyone. If it wasn't already obvious, I am River, your new leader…" The voice cut through the broken record of her thoughts trying to piece together the course and grabbed her attention. Tappi’s gaze slowly shifted to their leader… Or new leader according to how he introduced himself. As he spoke, painting camp in a grueling and intimidating light, she started absentmindedly picking at the side of her thumb. Heavy training, the threat of death, and Pandora’s box—she vaguely remembered reading about that on the plane… she’d have to double check later—it all sounded horribly ominous.
When River started running the course, ‘leading by example’ as he put it, her heart sank. She didn’t have muscles like that. She wasn’t coordinated like that. He ran the course like a star athlete outrunning a hoard of zombies: fast, agile, perfect. Tappi’s leg started bouncing like her body had a mind of its own and she was fighting the urge to give in and leave. Her nerves kept creeping higher while the space between her and Nate vanished. Like a subconscious magnetism, she sought the comfort of his warmth and the soft sensation of his arm brushing against hers to help ease the storm that churned in her stomach. But she didn’t say anything. She didn’t want to appear scared or weak, even if the tension across her shoulders, the cold sweat that prickled along the back of her neck, and the small speckle of fresh blood beside her thumbnail betrayed her.
Fifteen minutes. Right. Ok. Sure… She could totally do that… maybe.
"Alright then. You’ll run the course in groups of five. First up is Sloane, Sylas, Nate, Maylisse and Andy…"
There was a chill against her arm where she once felt his warmth. Nate got to his feet without hesitation and removed his hoodie before she registered that his name was called. She blinked then looked up at him where she was met with his small smile. "Wish me luck, Tappi."
A small tension unknotted itself from her shoulders as she slouched, just a fraction, and gave him her own apprehensive and far less convincing smile. "I’ve already seen your muscles, I don’t think you need luck," she teased, trying to find some comfort in their banter. There was a quick second where the memory of their dance off—specifically when he took his shirt off—flooded her mind. Tappi cleared her throat and pushed away the vivid images before her flush could return. She had managed to survive at least five minutes without blushing… She'd like to keep up her streak.
"I’ll be back in no time."
Her smile grew slightly in an attempt to be reassuring as she nodded her head. "Good luck, Nate," Tapeesa called after him quietly, just loud enough for him to hear before he wandered off toward the start of the course.
She set her parka in the empty space beside her before turning her attention back toward the course. Tappi subconsciously scooted to the edge of her seat and pinned her hands between her knees as she waited for the first group to start their run. They all looked formidable, or at least to her… Whatever that was worth. She didn’t really know how athletic Nate was, but she wasn't stupid either. You don’t get muscles like that by sitting around all day, so he had to do some amount of physical activity. But the other guy in his group had a scary determination in his stance and the girl that seemed to draw his glares looked completely unbothered by the task laid before them.
It was hard to keep up with everything once it started. There was a part of her that was curious about all of them and how differently each obstacle could be handled, but her own selfishness kept her gaze on Nate and little else. Another wave of anxiety tingled behind Tapeesa’s ribs, but it wasn’t for fear that he wouldn’t finish in time, it was concern that he’d somehow injure himself again and have no clue. Gods that was going to give her a headache every time they had training.
He made it through the tires easily and was doing the same with the log hurdles until the last one. Nate didn’t quickly climb over and continue, he stopped and sat and… Was he waving? Tapeesa’s brows raised and eyes widened as she watched him practically laugh in the face of the challenge, which was kind of brazen considering he was only two in. Then he met her gaze and smiled. Her cheeks reddened—well so much for that streak—and, whether she wanted to or not, her bright smile bloomed as she made a shooing motion with her hands and mouthed ‘go’.
Thankfully he didn’t waste anymore time and hopped down.
Most of his run was well paced with him hot on the trail of the girl in front of him, no doubt fueled by his competitiveness that Tappi had quickly learned to associate with him in the little bit of time they’ve known each other. She settled into a false sense of security as he breezed through the different obstacles but, of course, the second she relaxed Nate half flung himself over the top of the ladder. The momentum threw off his rhythm and for a fraction of a second it looked like he was going to fall until he slammed into one of the rungs and managed to frantically brace himself. Tapeesa hid her face in her hands, sneaking small glances between her fingers until his feet were firmly back on the ground.
Her heart rate had eased some by the time Nate made his way across the arena and sat back down beside her. "I think I swallowed some sand. Is that bad?"
Tapeesa, tactful as always, brushed off his comment. "Screw the sand. I’m more worried about your ribs." Without asking for permission, she grabbed the hem of his shirt and lifted it up. Her eyes scanned his chest looking for any early signs of bruising or labored breathing. With someone else she would have just asked if they were hurt, but after the whole stunt with his ankle the night before, she didn’t trust Nate’s judgement when it came to his own pain or injuries. Her brows furrowed as she noticed the redness that covered his skin and the faint purples that had started blooming along his ribs. The knuckles of her left hand pressed softly against his sternum as she held his shirt in place, while her other hand examined him, the tips of her fingers gently tracing his ribs to make sure nothing was broken.
After a moment or two of thoroughly checking him, Tapeesa spoke quietly. "I don’t think anything is broken." Rather than pull away, her hands shifted to cup both sides of his ribs, letting the bunched up fabric of his shirt fall to rest on top of her forearms. A familiar golden glow and warmth radiated from her palms as she let her healing magic pour from her and work to erase the bruises before they formed. "For the bruises…" she whispered, finally looking up into his eyes. It wasn’t until that moment that her doctor mind switched off and she became fully aware of her hands on his bare chest, their close proximity, and the heat that crept up her neck and along her cheeks. She cleared her throat and looked… literally anywhere else.
Nate, as always, was a very good patient. He didn't flinch as she examined the forming bruises, simply letting her get to work as he watched her. The feeling of her hands on his chest was a welcome outcome, as was the warmth of her healing. When he noticed her shift in demeanor, Nate flashed a smile. "As always, much appreciated." He hesitated a moment, the smirk on his face a clear sign he wanted to press his luck. Instead, he averted his own eyes as his cheeks darkened a shade or two. "I'm fine, Tappi. Could have checked it later."
When Tappi caught the subtle flush that tinged his cheeks, a small stirring tickled somewhere in her chest, warm and unbidden. "Forgive me if I don't trust your judgement on pain after last night." Her smile grew, playful and teasing, as her thumbs lightly pressed into his chest for emphasis while she spoke. "It should only take a second."
Sitting in the silence, Tapeesa grew increasingly aware of every movement and sensation of her hands upon him: the softness of his skin against hers, the contours of his muscles beneath her fingers, and the rise and fall of his chest with every breath. There was a small temptation to steal a glance, but she kept her gaze locked on the collar of his shirt or the familiar smirk that tugged at Nate's mouth. It was only when she felt the heat subside that she ducked her head slightly to check her work. Pale, flushed skin, tattoo… no bruises. Her hands shifted and took hold of the hem of his shirt. She slowly lowered it back into place, her knuckles occasionally brushing his stomach until she let go and her hands withdrew into her own lap.
"Maybe," she started, shifting to look up into his eyes. "Maybe I don't like the thought of you being hurt." The confession was quiet but earnest. Tapeesa shrugged her shoulders as if it was just the way it was, a byproduct of being in her life and something he couldn't change no matter how hard he tried. "I'll always be there to heal you… Until you grow tired of me," she added with a soft laugh.
Nate had a hard time looking at Tapeesa the more she spoke. He observed the others gathered in the arena, watching as they got into position for another run. "Who would get tired of you?" The question hung for a moment, Nate's sincerity bleeding into the question. At the same time, the levity in his tone tried to match Tapeesa's own banter. There was a third thing, something he couldn't quite describe or understand that hid in his words. Rather than confronting it, Nate let the feeling slip as he shook his head. "I would be careful with that offer, or else you're gonna be healing me a lot, Toppings."
His question, while rhetorical, made Tapeesa’s smile soften, not from sadness but an indiscernible warmth that made her heart flutter and made it harder to look him in the eyes. Plenty of people had grown tired of her before, but it was the unspoken truth behind his words that tugged at something inside of her. She didn’t comment on it though, letting Nate redirect the conversation back into the comfort of their playful banter. "It’s really more of a threat than an offer," she teased with a mischievous chuckle and a warmth that twinkled behind her eyes. "Who knows, maybe after enough times I’ll earn my own favor."
Nate shrugged his shoulders at her comments, his brows furrowed slightly. "Not much of a threat." He had a hard time understanding what about her feeling him up and avoiding a trip to the hospital was a threat, but didn’t want to overstep with another innuendo. So, he leaned over to brush his shoulder against hers. "Need to get you a punch card… maybe ten heals for a favor?"
"Ten?" Tapeesa gasped, playful in her false offense, as she bumped his shoulder back while also subconsciously leaning into the touch. "I’ll give you five." She held up her hand and wiggled her fingers with a soft laugh.
Tapeesa had spent enough time fussing over Nate that by the time she turned her attention back toward the obstacle course, the second group was mostly finished aside from one girl who was only halfway through while the rest jumped the last hurdle. The brunette looked miserable as she climbed out of the shallow pool of water beneath the rope swing. Tapeesa watched her, silently rooting for the girl to push through and finish… and not get hurt. She winced when the girl fell at the end of the ladder obstacle and twisted her ankle. Then regardless of the attention it might have brought, Tappi clapped for her when she finally crossed the finish line. But the victory was short lived, quickly replaced with her doubling over and vomiting in front of the whole camp.
There was a strong urge to run out there and help her, but considering Tapeesa didn’t know her, she figured that would probably be super weird. So she sat and waited, chewing on the inside of her cheek, until the girl was escorted back to her seat and the next group was called for their run. In the stirring of the next five campers standing up and making their way to the course, she gave Nate a quick smile and a soft pat on the knee. "I’ll be right back."
Tappi got to her feet and made her way over to the small group of demigods. Ideally it would have been best if the girl was alone rather than surrounded by a group of people she didn’t know. She felt a little awkward walking up to them randomly, but she could look past her own nerves to help someone else… It also helped that as she got closer she noticed Anissa in the group sitting beside the girl. So there was one familiar face. "Hi, Anissa," she said with a warm smile and small wave as she approached.
Anissa glanced up at the sound of her name. “Hey,” she said quietly, offering a small nod in greeting. She remained seated beside Blair, close enough to be present without hovering.
Her attention turned to the other girl as she took a small step forward and crouched down to be at eye level. Tappi rested her hands on one of her bent knees as she tried her best to make the whole situation a little less awkward. "Hello. I know you don’t know me… But I’m a healer." She twiddled her thumbs against her leg as she tried to piece together the right words. "I’d like to help you… If that’s ok?"
Blair looked up from behind messy raven hair that fell like a veil in front of her face. Dark circles haloed her eyes, stark against the pallid yellow tinge to her skin. She didn’t look angry or offended, just confused and incredibly uncomfortable. "Why?" she asked with a raspy strained voice. It wasn’t so much that she didn’t appreciate help, but that she didn’t understand why it was being offered in the first place… Especially by a girl she didn’t know.
"Because… I don’t like seeing people in pain when I can help."
There was a long pause as Blair weighed her choices, but in the end she nodded her head in silent agreement, wishing to be free of her discomfort rather than worried over.
"Is it just your stomach and ankle?" Tapeesa asked as her gaze scanned the girl for any other injuries, being far more polite and less probing that she was with Nate.
"Umm…" Blair pondered the question for a second with squinted eyes like the sun itself offended her by existing. "Yeah and my head. But that’s just because I’m hungover and haven’t eaten."
Tapeesa’s smile grew slightly, the hint of her dimples dipping into her cheeks. "I can help with the hangover, but you’ll have to be sure to eat after training." She slowly leaned forward, shifting her weight to her knees as she reached out, placing one hand on the girl’s forehead while the other lightly pressed against her stomach. After a second her hands began emanating a soft glow that seeped in the girl’s body like sunlight on her skin. The magic slowly dissipated the aches with a warmth that could remove frost from a windshield. Without a word, Tappi’s hand fell to the girl’s ankle. There didn’t appear to be any bruises, so it likely wasn’t anything serious. But she was already there and figured there was no harm in helping with that as well.
It was only a matter of seconds before the ache was soothed and the glow faded. "That should do it," Tapeesa pushed off her thighs and stood up, then dusted the caked dirt from her knees.
Blair let out a sigh of relief as the color visibly returned to her cheeks. "Thank you," was all that she said, but the gratitude was visible in the ease of her shoulders and the tired smile that fought to curve into her cheeks.
"Of course." Tapeesa nodded her head with a smile then turned to leave, not wishing to overstay her welcome or make things more awkward than she already did.
She crossed the stands, somewhat hunched over to try and not block anyone’s view. It didn’t cross her mind how ridiculous she looked until her gaze locked with Nate's. Her smile grew slightly followed by a small laugh as she slipped into the space beside him. Tapeesa didn’t know what all she missed, but it wasn’t until she was sitting back down with nothing to keep her mind and hands busy that she wished there was someone to heal or something to do to keep her distracted. Watching more people run the course only made her nerves return with a vengeance along with her bouncing legs and the absentminded way she picked at her hangnails.
It wasn’t long before another group was done, although she lost track of which number that was. The next set of demigods that approached the course all looked unfamiliar aside from Leo, who immediately jogged her memory of a promise she made that she failed to keep. "Shoot," she whispered under her breath. Tapeesa tried to cut herself some slack considering she left the party entirely after the conversation with Elias, but she still made a mental note to seek him out at some point and apologize.
For the first part of the course, Tapeesa naturally watched him run it, if only because he was the one familiar face. But when Leo was barreling through the obstacles without issue, her attention shifted to those who brought up the tailend of the group. She found herself sympathizing and silently rooting for them to push through. While she didn’t know the two girls, there was a part of her that felt like a kindred spirit. She didn’t expect her run to go much better but hoped that someone would cheer for her in a similar way. Then almost like some messed up deja vu, another dark haired girl started heaving, but she luckily managed to keep her food down unlike the last one.
"This place is going to keep me busy," she muttered under her breath more to herself than anything. Perhaps that was why Apollo came to her and sent her there. It sure as heck couldn’t have been because he saw a warrior in her. So maybe, maybe, it was to be a medic… Heal the warriors and support them like a silent guardian in the background. It would be a heavy burden if she was the only person keeping dozens of demigods in one piece, but that was a challenge she would happily accept. It was far better than running an obstacle course or fighting monsters.
"—Tapeesa—" Hearing her name called out across the arena snapped her out of her thoughts and drew a dreaded groan from her lips. Whether or not her father’s plans were bigger than being a demigod soldier, it appeared she wasn’t exempt from the camp gauntlet no matter how hard she wished.
She pushed off her knees and stood up with a sigh. Her fingers hooked around the hem of her hoodie, pulled it off and set it aside with her parka, knowing she’d sweat herself out of it before she finished running through the tires. Tappi adjusted the straps of her sports bra and brushed her braids behind her shoulders. She has already forgotten the reason she wore the sweatshirt in the first place, wanting to hide the small dark mark on her neck that was now on full display, unbeknownst to her. After one last deep breath, she lightly tapped the toe of her sneaker against the side of Nate’s foot. "Your turn to wish me luck." Her words slipped out far lighter than the heavy dread that waited for her, brighter still by her soft smile and warm gaze.
After Nate offered her whatever encouragement he could, Tapeesa started making her way toward the obstacle course, anxiously ringing her hands together as her gaze skimmed the crowd on either side of her. Just as she stepped down into the dirt center of the arena she caught a glimpse of the raven haired girl from the group before who nearly got sick. She knew she had to do her training too, but there was an intangible tether knotted around one of her ribs that always pulled her toward those who needed her… Those she could heal. It was like the ghost of her mother was guiding her to help others, to do what others often overlooked.
She paused and looked over to meet River’s gaze as he watched and waited for her to join the others. Tappi flashed him an apologetic smile and held up her finger. "One second," she mouthed before pivoting in the dirt and beelining for the girl, and who she could only assume was her brother.
"Hi," Tapeesa spoke quietly as she stopped before the trio of dark haired demigods. "I’m sorry this is kind of weird. My dad is Apollo… So umm… I can heal." She wiggled her fingers slightly with a lopsided smile. "I noticed your run—" She nodded her head backwards toward the agility course and where she was certain River was impatiently waiting with a confused expression. "—I just wanted to help… If you’ll let me."
Sloane kept her raw and blistered hands cupped together and pinched between her knees as she looked up at the girl standing before her. She couldn’t recall Camp ever having a proper healer. There was Cherise, but to the best of her knowledge the girl was more of an archer less of an actual healer. The girl standing before her had a bright and selfless air, like she carried the sun with her wherever she went. Something about her reminded Sloane of Colton, all warmth and smiles that hadn’t yet had her spirit broken by Camp or the Gods.
At the offer to heal, Sloane gently bumped Katryna’s arm with her elbow. "She has a headache."
Katryna felt the heat rise first, not from the arena’s magic, nor the lingering burn in her muscles, but from the sudden, acute awareness of herself being seen. Not just noticed, but noticed in the way that mattered. The way that meant her stumble, her fall, her moment of graceless unraveling had been clear enough to tug someone out of line and across the dirt toward her. Her shoulders drew in instinctively, chin dipping as if she might fold herself smaller by sheer will alone, embarrassed in that quiet, aching way that had nothing to do with pride and everything to do with vulnerability.
And yet, when she looked up at Tapeesa, really looked, whatever sharp retort she might have summoned dissolved before it reached her tongue. The girl’s face held no pity. No spectacle-hungry curiosity. Only earnest concern, bright and open, like a hand extended without expectation. It softened something in Kat immediately, a tension she hadn’t realized she was still holding. She exhaled slowly, one palm sliding absently against her thigh as if to ground herself in the moment with the pain.
“That’s… kind of you,” Kat said at last, her voice quieter than usual, still threaded with fatigue but no longer edged. Her gaze flicked briefly to Sloane when she felt the nudge, then back to Tapeesa, and she gave a small, rueful huff of breath that might have been a laugh in better circumstances. “I do have a headache. Migraine, really. And—” She raised her injured hands, before she tipped her chin toward Sloane’s own cupped hands, pointedly, deliberately, making sure she wouldn’t be the only one facing a proclaimed healer. “—She’s got hands that look like they went twelve rounds with a cheese grater.”
"No—I…" Sloane’s face reddened as she buried her hands deeper between her knees, hoping to be overlooked or for everyone to forget she had hands in the first place. "Some ointment and bandages and I’ll be fine… Honestly." There was a second where she looked over at Kacper with a silent plea to back her up, but she quickly brushed the thought aside knowing it was likely he’d throw her under a second bus rather than let her remain invisible.
Katryna’s first reaction was sharp and immediate, a quiet spark of indignation flaring beneath the fatigue and lingering nausea. She saw it for what it was—Sloane folding inward, trying to make herself smaller, trying to pretend pain could be bargained away with politeness and silence. Kat’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly as her gaze dropped to where Sloane hid her hands, tucked away like a shameful secret. There was something deeply unfair about it, about how easily Sloane tried to disappear when she was hurting, and Kat felt a protective heat rise in her chest that had nothing to do with the arena’s magic.
Before she could speak, Kacper moved. He leaned forward, close enough that the broad plane of his chest brushed Sloane’s shoulder, solid and warm, an anchoring presence rather than an intrusion. The heat of him seeped through fabric and skin alike, grounding in a way that was almost impossible to ignore. His movements were careful, deliberately slow, telegraphed well in advance, like approaching a skittish animal in the woods, one wrong motion away from sending it bolting. He reached out and gently caught her wrist, his fingers closing with just enough firmness to be sure, just enough softness to reassure. A small tug, patient and unhurried, coaxed her hand upward.
Movement at Sloane’s side drew her attention and her gaze settled on Kacper as he brushed against her shoulder to lean closer. A moment that normally would have made her flustered was quickly washed away as her wrist was seized and tugged free from its prison between her knees. Her eyes snapped to their hands as her mind was thrust into a memory she didn’t wish to relive. His touch was cold like a corpse with the soft skin of a privileged life. Long, slender fingers ensnared her arm with a grip so tight that the phantom remnants remained for a week after... She always hated when people asked her why she wore turtlenecks in the summer. She couldn’t recall what set him off that time, it could have been anything or nothing. The mound of eggshells she climbed to sate his temper didn't matter, it was never enough.
It jarred her like standing on a fissure at the start of an earthquake.
The memory replayed in a flash and she flinched, jerking her arm from Kacper’s hold as if his touch burned hot like embers. Sloane froze, blinking slowly as she tried to push past it and find her way to the present. She looked down at her arm, cold from the absence of his hold but no markings lingered. Her gaze drifted toward his hand that remained open and outstretched where she left it. "Sorry," she muttered under her breath. Her fingers rubbed her skin where he touched her as if it would erase the nightmare from her mind. Then, hesitantly, she placed her arm back in his palm as a silent gesture to show the problem was not him… but her.
Kacper stilled the moment she pulled away. He didn’t reach after her, didn’t close the space she’d reclaimed, his hand remained open where she’d left it, fingers relaxed, an offering rather than a claim. When she hesitated and then placed her arm back into his palm, he accepted it with the same care one might use to cradle something already cracked. His touch this time was deliberate in its gentleness, warm now, grounding, the pressure barely there at all.
He turned her hand palm-up slowly, as if announcing every inch of the movement without words. His thumb hovered near the torn skin, never quite touching, respect written plainly into the restraint. The sharpness that so often lived in his expression was gone; what remained was steady, intent, and unexpectedly soft.
“Hey,” he murmured, the sound low and anchoring, like a hand at the small of her back rather than a voice in her ear. “You don’t get extra points for pretending this doesn’t hurt.” There was no teasing in it, no bite, just a simple truth offered without judgment.
His eyes lifted briefly, flicking toward Tapeesa with quiet certainty before returning to Sloane. “Let her help you,” he said, more firmly now, but still gentle. The corner of his mouth twitched, not quite a smile.“You’re allowed to accept it.” He didn’t say because you deserve it. He didn’t need to. The way his hand stayed steady beneath hers said it all.
Sloane stared at his fingers wrapped around her dainty wrist, drawing every comparison between Kacper’s touch and the one that flashed before her eyes as a way to calm her elevated heartbeat and shove the memory back to the recesses of her mind where it belonged. His fingers weren’t slender or cold, but strong and warm, with calloused skin of someone who didn’t grow up with silver spoons and mansions. His touch wasn’t forceful nor did it leave behind bruises. It was gentle and reassuring. It was just a memory… But even knowing that, when she looked up, her eyes scanned the faces around her and then the crowd until she found her brother halfway across the stands. While his gaze was piercing as he judged the gathering around her, she found relief in knowing it wasn’t his hand on her.
She blinked, centering herself before looking back at Kacper with squinted eyes. "Aren’t you supposed to be the grumpy mean one?" she asked with a small breath of levity, trying to mask her slip up with humor or banter… or anything. She sighed and rolled her eyes, although there was no maliciousness behind the gesture. "Fine," she conceded. "If it’ll get you all to stop fussing over me." While the whole situation made her uncomfortable being the center of attention or other people’s worry, there was a part of her that was thankful someone cared in the first place. It reminded her of—it didn’t matter… But it was nice, in its own annoying way.
Kat hesitated, eyes flickering from Kacper’s answering smirk back to Tapeesa, fingers curling loosely together before she spoke again. “I just… I don’t want to mess up your run. Or drain you, or however it works.” Her brows knit faintly, concern overtaking embarrassment. “Would helping us affect you at all? I don’t want to be the reason you fall behind.”
Tapeesa shrugged her shoulders as she took a step forward and lowered herself to her knees. Similar to Blair, she extended her hands placing one on the girl’s forehead and the other on her stomach. It took a little bit longer than for the light to envelope her hands and send warming waves into Kat. Tappi noticed, but said nothing about it, her bright smile remaining permanent and unwavering. "I’m not sure… But migraines suck. So if helping you adds a couple seconds to my run, oh well." She shrugged her shoulders a second time with a weak laugh. "I’m a better medic than athlete anyway."
Katryna let out a short, breathy huff when Tapeesa ignored her unspoken protests and simply did it anyway, the sound carrying equal parts exasperation and surrender. Her shoulders slumped, the fight leaking out of her in one quiet spill, as if her body had finally accepted that this, being helped, being tended to, was inevitable. Fine, then. If the universe insisted on kindness, she would stop bracing against it… for now. Her jaw unclenched. Her hands, which had been fisted tight in her lap, slowly eased open.
Then the warmth took hold. It wasn’t abrupt, not a snap of lightning or a blinding flare, but a gentle tide rolling in, steady and patient. The pressure behind her eyes began to loosen, the cruel, nail-driving pulse dulling into something manageable, something that no longer demanded every scrap of her attention. Kat’s lashes fluttered as the ache receded, breath catching before spilling out in a long, unguarded sigh—soft, reverent, like a prayer she hadn’t realized she was holding in her chest. Relief bled into her expression in visible stages, tension melting from her brow, from the rigid set of her mouth, until she looked almost… peaceful.
“Oh,” she breathed, then laughed weakly under it, disbelief threaded through the sound. “Wow. Gods, okay. That’s… that’s so much better.”
Her eyes opened again, she hadn’t realized she’d even shut them, gentler now as they found Tapeesa’s face, gratitude settling warm and sincere in her gaze. “Thank you,” Kat said quietly, and meant it in the bone-deep way that went beyond manners. “I got it when we were hiking in this morning. Sun, noise, everything at once.” She rolled one shoulder, sheepish. “I get them a lot, unfortunately.”
She hesitated, then added, guilt edging in now that the pain had loosened its grip. “I really could’ve waited until after your run, though.” A faint, crooked smile tugged at her lips, humor returning where misery had been. “So if you fail because you stopped to heal me…” Kat tilted her head, considering, then nodded solemnly. “I’m absolutely going to have to make it up to you somehow. I don’t know how yet, but I’ll figure something out.”
For the first time since she’d hit the dirt face-first, Katryna looked like herself again. Still tired, still scraped and sore, but no longer drowning beneath her own skull. And for that, she silently decided, Tapeesa had earned more than just thanks.
"It’s ok. Helping people is its own reward," Tapeesa reassured her with a warm smile as she slowly stood back up. "But if you ever get a migraine again or whatever you can always bug me. My cabin is…" Her voice trailed off while her face scrunched trying to recall which number she actually chose. It felt like it had been way longer than half of a day since she arrived at camp. The memory of which cabin number she picked had already slipped her mind in the handful of hours. "I don’t remember which number it is. But the maps will say ‘Tapeesa’ and it’s right next to the infirmary."
She shifted sideways a step, looking down at the small brunette who was coerced into letting herself be healed. Before asking, the girl held up her hands more like she was being arrested, and presenting them to be cuffed, rather than having the tears in her skin healed. Tapeesa didn’t make a fuss over it, simply taking the girl’s hands in hers, letting the light and warmth seep into her skin and radiate through her palms. It took a little longer than curing a migraine, but after a minute or two the glow faded and her hands looked good as new.
"Thanks," Sloane whispered with a small, slightly forced smile.
"Of course."
Tappi glanced back over her shoulder toward River who tapped his wrist impatiently for her to hurry up. "Oh shoot. Right. Training." She laughed awkwardly while giving the small group in front of her a small wave before turning away and hurrying toward the course.
Kat watched Tapeesa retreat with something like awe softening the sharp edges of her embarrassment. The relief still lingered in her skull, a quiet, miraculous hush where pain had lived only moments ago, and it left her feeling unmoored in the gentlest way. She straightened without thinking, voice lifting to follow the healer across the dirt.
“Good luck!” she called, the words earnest and bright, carried on a smile that felt newly earned. It struck her then how rare it was, this uncomplicated kindness, no barbs, no expectations, no ledger quietly tallying debts. Just help, freely given. Kat exhaled, shoulders loosening, and tucked the moment away like something fragile and worth keeping.
Kacper, meanwhile, tracked Tapeesa’s retreating form with narrowed eyes, arms folding loosely across his chest. He huffed under his breath, a sound halfway between a scoff and reluctant concession. Maybe, a traitorous thought whispered, just maybe there are decent people out there. The idea barely had time to settle before he rolled his eyes at himself, shoving it aside with practiced cynicism. Everyone wanted something—gratitude, validation, leverage, favor. That was the rule. That was how the world worked.
And yet… his gaze drifted back to Sloane, newly healed hands flexing awkwardly in her lap, still trying to make herself small even after being helped. She didn’t quite fit the pattern. Didn’t angle for praise or linger for approval. She was an irregular piece, edges worn smooth in places that should’ve been sharp. A puzzle. And despite himself, Kacper felt the faint, irritating spark of interest catch and hold. He liked puzzles.
Tapeesa slowly approached the line of tires as her fingers twiddled with the tail of one of her braids. Her brain felt hazy like she was lost in a fog while bees buzzed between her ears. She was lethargic, all the healing sapped her energy and left her feeling like she was moving through water. Her movements were slow and took more energy and focus than they normally did. The girl had mentioned it, been concerned about it, but Tappi never even humored the thought. But as she approached the course she realized, the healing she had always done was in short spurts, a scraped knee here, sprained ankle there, but never back to back. It wasn’t until that moment that she was fully aware of how thin she was spreading herself.
While her thoughts continued to spiral and she tried to tap into whatever reserve energy she could muster, and gravitated toward the one person in her group she knew, Anissa. She gave her another lopsided smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes as she stepped in line beside her. "I like your shirt," she offered quietly while pointing at the image of the sloth.
Anissa's attention seemed to surface slowly, as if from deep water. She blinked, glanced down at the shirt, and then a gentle, genuine smile bloomed on her face. It was warm, but softened by exhaustion, the kind that settles in after adrenaline fades.
“Thanks,” she replied, her tone matching Tapeesa’s for quietness. She ran a finger over the sloth’s tranquil, sleeping face. “He felt… pretty appropriate today.”
Tapeesa laughed softly. "I would say so."
As she looked back up to meet Anissa’s gaze her attention was drawn to a man that towered behind her like a spotlight from the heavens shined down on him. Light brown hair, muscular, one arm, charming smile—one arm? Tapeesa did a doubletake and actually leaned forward slightly with furrowed brows as if someone turned the god rays off and she could see him clearly without rose tinted glasses. Holy crap, he did only have one arm. Even with the fog gone, there was a strange magnetism that kept enticing her to look or move a little closer. She quickly turned forward, focusing on the tires and hurdles thereafter, forcing herself not to look at the one armed Adonis that demanded attention without trying.
At her side, Anissa lightly nudged Tapeesa’s elbow with her own.
“Hey, thanks for… being so caring?” she murmured, her voice tinged with a grateful, if slightly awkward, warmth. She even offered a small thumbs-up, seemingly misreading the reason for Tapeesa’s previous exchange. “You’ve got this.”
"Oh," Tappi replied, a bit stunned at first. "Sure." She returned the thumbs-up with one of her own. "You too." Her smile was less than convincing, but it was more in regards to her own capabilities rather than Anissa’s. Although something in Tappi’s gut told her they were both in for a bit of a rude awakening.
When River signaled for their group to go, everyone took off in an instant while Tapeesa felt like she was stuck in quick sand. She looked up toward the guy with one arm, Anissa, then back down to her feet like staring at them intently would will them to move. It took a second or two, like sifting through snow in the middle of a blizzard to get her mind and body to find its synchronicity and move. She was by no means an athlete, but years of chasing after kids, helping elders with mundane tasks or simply trudging through the brutal Iqaluit snow kept her in shape. Tappi wasn’t someone who sat still for long, so that would work to her advantage, but not much.
Tapeesa finally got her momentum by the time the rest of her group had neared the end of the tires. She pulled on a reserve of energy, pushing herself forward, focusing on not falling. When she reached the end she picked up speed, passing a struggling and whining brunette while closing in on a redhead. Her pace didn’t slow as she approached the hurdles, leaping over the first two logs easily. For the third, she braced her hands upon the wood like she was going to vault it, but kicked her foot up onto it. She quickly got to her feet and hopped across the remaining two hurdles, electing to not stop and wave like Nate. The thought made her shake her head with a quiet laugh to herself just before she dove onto her stomach into the sand like a baseball player. In hindsight, taking off her hoodie might not have been the best idea. She felt the grit of the earth, rough and coarse, dragged across her bare stomach as she propelled herself forward. Tappi by no means was the fastest, but she had a good rhythm aside from the couple times her braids slipped over her shoulder and under her arm, tripping her up.
Once free of the low barriers, she pushed off the ground and approached the rope climb. Her chest already heaved, covered in sand that clung to her sweat as she looked up at the rope. Tapeesa had no idea what the status of her upper body strength was. She didn’t lift weights or anything, but there were the occasional times people mentioned she was strong. But… Strong enough for that? Yeah… she wasn’t sure. She wiped her hands off on her pants, grabbed the rope tightly in her hands and jumped. Her form was abysmal and her arms were shaky, but she was slowly and steadily making progress.
By the time she was halfway up, the guy with one arm was nearing the top. Tappi was too focused on her own climb that she didn’t notice when he slipped. It wasn’t until he came twisting and tumbling down beside her and his foot clipped onto her own rope that it became her problem. Her entire body constricted and went rigid like her life depended on it. She was curled in on herself, like a dangling fetal position, gripping the rope with every part of her she could: hands, thighs, and feet. Her eyes snapped shut to brace herself and it was only when the rope stopped swaying that she looked down toward the guy who was face down on the ground. As he stood she saw the puddle of blood left behind in the dirt and the crimson trail that fell from his nose. There was a second where the course no longer mattered and she considered climbing down to heal him, but then she caught River’s gaze, scrutinizing every struggle and hesitation she had… So she climbed higher, resolving to heal the guy afterwards.
When Tapeesa reached the top, she extended a shaky hand to tap the top beam, then very slowly and cautiously descended, making sure not to end up face first on the ground herself. She ran to the net bridge, shaking her hands to try and remove some of the fatigue before stepping out onto it. For the first half she was fine, but the swaying along with her own dizzy mind made the world feel like it was spinning beneath her. Near the end, she took a step and her foot slipped through one of the openings. Gravity took her until she was caught by the width of her hip, her body tipping forward, and her groin slamming into the central rope with a gasp. With shaky weak arms, she slowly pulled her leg free and forced herself forward toward the end of the bridge.
Tappi took a second to catch her breath and shake her hands again, before taking hold of the rope swing. She could do this, she had before. What kid didn’t swing around on a rope swing at some point in their life? Of course, it probably wasn’t when their arms were on fire from a rope climb, but… Focus. She grabbed the rope and backed up as far as she could on the platform. Then, with a silent prayer, she ran and jumped. She made it across—thank the gods—but her dismount was rough. The tips of her toes landed on the edge of the pool and her body lurched off balance, tipping backwards. Her arms flailed like she was in an old cartoon, just barely managing to keep herself upright.
Once she was steady, she hurried off toward the balance beams, not sacrificing speed as she hit the incline… Which was a mistake. Halfway through the world started spinning again and Tapeesa tipped over the side, stumbling then falling on all fours. "Come on," she chastised herself as she pushed off the ground and tried again. She nearly had a repeat offense on the decline but closed her eyes to ward off the dizziness and make it the final few steps without falling. Tapeesa blinked the haze from her eyes as she approached the pool and jumped in without hesitation. She was never taught how to swim, but she could stay afloat and get from point A to point B. Her form was sloppy and slow, but she made it to the other side without any slip ups, and climbed out.
She slowly approached the towering ladder, hands on her hips, water dripping down her body, panting. Even some of the most surefooted campers slipped up on this obstacle, which did not instill Tapeesa with the confidence she needed. She approached one of the vertical supports and patted it with a trembling hand. "Alright, big guy. It’s just me and you," she mumbled under her breath before grabbing the first log and hoisting herself up. Her climb was slow and arduous. She was technically tall enough to skip the occasional rung, but chose safety over speed and took each step gradually. When Tappi reached the top she didn’t roll over it quickly, but mounted, straddled and dismounted it like a horse to keep herself in control. The climb down was precarious and there were a couple times her feet slipped, but with patience and determination she made it to the ground without any accidents. Ready to be done, Tapeesa ran through the final hurdle. She just barely made it across the small pool of water, her foot grazing the surface as she crossed.
After crossing the finish line she looked around surprised to find that she finished second in her group behind Anissa. Knowing how horrible she felt her own run was, Tappi grimaced in sympathy at the others who trailed behind her. She trudged her way back toward the stands, leaving behind wet footprints in the sand. As Tappi passed River, she felt the water pulled from her hair and clothes like stepping through a giant vacuum or industrial dryer. She stopped for a beat and looked over at him, dazed. "Uh… Thanks."
She nodded her head toward him then returned to her spot in the stands beside Nate, but she didn’t sit. Tapeesa knew once she let her legs rest she wouldn’t be able to get herself up anytime soon and she was determined to save what energy she had left to heal the one armed guy’s nose. So she stood beside Nate, her leg subconsciously brushing his as she rocked back and forth with her arms crossed as she watched the rest of her group finish their runs. She clocked the one guy returning to his seat high up in the stands, but she still waited until the next names were called before moving.
Her arms uncrossed and a hand fell to rest on Nate’s shoulder softly. "I’ll be right back." Considering Tapeesa had been running around playing nurse throughout training, she doubted she needed to explain what she was doing to him. But she still tried to give him a reassuring smile, even if her eyes showed the depths of exhaustion she was feeling.
With a soft sigh, she started climbing the stands finding the stairs to be a cruel punishment after running the obstacle course. It took her longer than she’d care to admit to make her way to the top where the guy sat beside a concerned blonde. Tappi stopped short a few steps and waved her hand awkwardly as she tried to catch her breath. "Hi. Sorry. I was on the rope next to you when—" she motioned her hand toward her nose, "—I, uh, I just wanted to help."
Wes looked up when he heard an unfamiliar voice. He was met with a girl with two long black braids, a pastel pink outfit, and a friendly smile, who was panting through her words. While he was grumpy, in pain, and not very approachable, it wasn’t her fault. He did his best to smile, although it looked more like a grimace rather than a friendly greeting. "How?" he asked, more confused than rude or standoffish.
"Oh, right." She laughed weakly. "My dad’s Apollo," Tapeesa replied, hoping her response was answer enough and that this guy had a little more knowledge about Greek mythology than Nate did. "I can’t grow you a new arm, but I can fix your nose." She tried her best to lighten the mood with a terrible joke. It wasn’t until the words slipped out that it crossed her mind that his arm could be a touchy subject… She prayed he had a good sense of humor.
He laughed. It was quiet and tired, but genuine. "Sure, if you don’t mind." Wes then lightly bumped the arm of the blonde beside him. "It’d put Trinity’s mind at ease."
"Trust me, if I minded I wouldn’t have climbed all those stairs." Her smile grew. It was less forced and let some of her exhaustion shine through without having to put on a brave face. Tapeesa slowly moved to stand before him, squinting slightly as she studied his nose. "I’m going to have to set it or it’ll heal all wonky like Owen Wilson."
Wes shrugged as he took Trinity’s hand in his own, lacing his fingers with hers. "Do what you have to, doc."
Tapeesa chuckled before gently placing her fingers on either side of his nose. "Alright. On the count of three. One… Two—" Snap.
He groaned through gritted teeth, but didn’t move or flinch. Only his hand that held Trinity’s flexed, squeezing her a little tighter until the initial wave of pain subsided.
"Sorry. It works better if you don’t know it’s coming." She quickly grabbed his discarded shirt and held it to his nose before it had a chance to bleed down his face again. With her left hand holding the fabric in place, her right hand gently rested across his nose. It took longer than normal for the golden light to illuminate from her palm, flickering at first, then starting dim before growing to full brightness. Unlike the other times, this took more power and she was already exhausted. Tapeesa could feel it draining her energy as every second ticked onward.
Her hand remained there until the light faded like a candle burning out. Her brows knit together, confused, as she saw bruises still present along his nose and under his eyes as she removed the shirt. "What the—" Tapeesa ran the tips of her fingers along the bridge of his nose, she no longer felt the break but the discoloration lingered. She tried a couple more times to heal what remained of his bruises, but no matter how much she focused, she couldn’t get the light to return for more than a second. "I’m sorry. I fixed the break but I think I’m too tired to—" As she went to stand upright, her head filled with static as the blood drained from it and she started to sway.
"Woah!" Wes reached out quickly to grab her upper arm and stabilize her before she tipped over. "Don’t worry about it. I can live with bruises and rope burn. You need to rest." His hold remained firm as he spared a glance over toward Trinity, then back up at her. "I can walk you back to your seat," he offered as he started to stand.
"No. No. It’s fine." Tapeesa gave her best reassuring smile as she tugged her arm free, but not too forcefully out of fear of losing her balance.
Wes grumbled as he reluctantly lowered himself back down to his seat. "Fine. All you demigod women are so stubborn," he teased with a soft laugh. "Can I at least know your name? You’re obviously new—Well, not obviously. I just mean… Trinity and I have been here for a while and you’re a new face." He flashed an apologetic smile. "I’m Wes and this is my girlfriend Trinity."
"I’m Tapeesa." She nodded her head with a small wobble, but quickly stopped him before he tried helping her again. "Just, you know, try not to break any more bones today. Give me at least 24 hours to recharge before I have to heal you again."
"You got it, boss."
"Ok, cool." Tappi slowly turned around to face the steep stairs that led back down to where her seat was. She exhaled deeply, nodded, and gave Wes and Trinity a parting thumbs up before she slowly, and unsteadily made her way back down the stands.
Unbeknownst to her, Wes still followed her down, just to make sure she didn’t faint or fall over. Once she turned down her row he headed back up toward his seat without her ever noticing.
Tapeesa’s hand rested on Nate’s shoulder for support as she found her way back. In her dizzy confusion when she went to sit down, she lowered herself into his lap rather than the space beside him. It took her a second or two for her mind to catch up, realizing she felt warmth beneath her and not the cold flat surface of the bench. She looked down, spotting the side of his legs and her eyes went wide. "Oh my god," she gasped. She frantically shifted and stumbled off of him into her seat, then quickly buried her beat red face into her hands. "Never... Let me run an obstacle course and do that much healing again while running on only poptarts and coffee."
Nate’s heart thumped in his chest at the sudden contact, his eyes widening a little at the brazen move. By the time he had moved his hands up to offer some support as she settled into his lap, she had quickly moved away. His usual smile faltered momentarily as he looked her over. It was just an accident after all, it seemed. Nate let out an exhale, unaware that he had been apparently holding his breath in the first place. "I guess we’ll just need to wake up earlier to make a real breakfast. Or I can pack some protein bars next time. And water I guess." He carefully lifted a hand up to rest it on her back, rubbing gentle circles across her shoulder blades..
We… Nate’s comment was so innocently casual that it caught her offguard. But she didn’t argue it because there was a part of her that liked how it sounded, even if it was completely ridiculous and they just met the day before. Her hands slowly fell from her face revealing the pink tinge that still clung to her cheeks and her tired smile. "I hate to break it to you but my cooking begins and ends with poptarts," she laughed softly as she sank into the warmth and comforting rhythm of his hand stroking her back. "You might have to settle for cafeteria food."
"We have a cafeteria?" Nate looked a little shocked, even though such a fact seemed a lot more obvious with a moment of thought. "I mean, I wouldn’t mind cafeteria food… lived off casino buffets for a few years, so I’m kind of used to it." He was sincere in that regard. He actually enjoyed his routine in Vegas, even if it was perhaps a bit unhealthy. Given his own lack of cooking experience, he would take any meal he didn’t have to make himself.
Tapeesa’s brows furrowed slightly as she considered it. "I mean… There has to be, right?" She shrugged her shoulders. "We can find out after training," she commented quietly like speaking took more energy than she had. Then absent thought, her head lulled to the side and rested against his shoulder as if the effort to hold it up was too much. "Sorry," she muttered, barely loud enough for him to hear. Tappi felt bad leaning on him so heavily in her fatigue. Nate was her only real friend so far. He was comfortable and familiar… And didn’t complain at her closeness. She just needed to rest and regain her strength… only a moment or two. Then her eyes closed as she slipped into the peaceful expanse just before sleep.
